Photo: President Shepard and members of Council 8003 holding the President's Award, a Mimbres style olla.

Silver City, NM – Western New Mexico University's (WNMU) President Joseph Shepard presented the 2014 President's Award to the Silver City League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Council 8003. The Council was honored for their longtime community service and dedication to education in Grant County and New Mexico.

LULAC Council 8003 has been helping students achieve their potential by awarding educational scholarships to students wishing to continue their studies in higher education. With the vision of its original founders, Apolonio "Polo" and wife Donna Sierra, the council began hosting fundraisers to collect money for the annual student scholarships. The first award amount was $250 and quickly escalated to several $1,000 scholarships a year.

"We're proud to be able to recognize some of the most inspiring members of our community," said Dr. Joseph Shepard, President of WNMU. "Without the relentless hard work this group has put forward year after year, many students perhaps wouldn't be where they are today in their careers."

Today, past recipients are spread throughout the country as students had the freedom to utilize the award at any college or university of their choosing. Past recipients include doctors, engineers, business owners, and many more including New Mexico Senator Howie Morales.
Senator Morales delivered special remarks about Council 8003, emphasizing the positive impact that the group has made in the community for several decades.

Western New Mexico University has served the people of the state of New Mexico and its surrounding areas as a comprehensive, regional, rural, public coeducational university since 1893 and serves a student body diverse in age, culture, language and ethnic background.